True Israel shall be raised as a large and powerful army to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air. The thirty-seventh chapter of the Book of Ezekiel describes the day in which we are living. Israel, both natural and spiritual, is scattered as dry bones over the face of the earth. There is no way possible in which the holy spiritual nation can be born. But God has promised to bring the spiritual Zion into travail. When He does, God's nation, the Body of Christ, will be "born at once."

The coming together and strengthening of spiritual Israel is proceeding in parallel with the coming together and strengthening of natural Israel.

God will bring together His elect with "sinews," strengthening them in unity. He will send His pastors to feed the flock until the sheep grow fat and strong and can break the yoke on their necks. Then the Lord will cover His Bride with the "skin" of the beauty of holiness.

After this, Christ will breathe into His army the breath of resurrection life. The saints will come forth from their graves and rise to meet their Commander in Chief in the air. He will descend with them to the Mount of Olives and they will overpower the wicked of the earth. Now will Christ and His saints reign triumphantly in Jerusalem.

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. (Ezekiel 37:10)

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 37:12)

The second chapter of the Book of Joel describes the invasion of the earth by Christ and His army (compare the nineteenth chapter of Revelation):

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. (Joel 2:2)

Christ's saints will shout for the battle. The Archangel Michael will command his angels. The trumpet of God will sound. The Lord's warriors will arise from their graves and stand in triumph on the earth.

Antichrist and the nations of the wicked will tremble with the fear of God. The light radiating from the resurrected saints will be as that which came from the garments of the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Then Christ will call up His legions to Himself. Where the body of the slain Lamb is, there the "eagles" (those who live by His body and blood) will be gathered together.

Christ and His army will descend from the clouds until the Lord Jesus is standing on the spot from which He ascended. This event will mark the beginning of the judgment of the wicked at the hands of the saints of God.

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: (Joel 2:10)

These are the historic signs of Christ's return (Matthew 24:29).

And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? (Joel 2:11)

To be continued.